Moga Mobile Gaming Controller Review

Mobile gaming has come a long way in the last six years. We used to be stoked to play Snake and Tetris on our phones and now we can play Grand Theft Auto 3, Infinity Blade, and Asphalt 7 on the same devices we make calls on.

Still, today's phones are ruled by big, gorgeous touchscreen - and that comes with a price, and that price is control. Plenty of hardcore games are just harder to control on touchscreens.

Enter the Moga by PowerA, a controller aimed to redefine how you game on your phone. Well, your Android phone, anyway.

Of all mobile OS's, Android has the most to benefit from a single winning controller design. It has the largest marketshare, many of the same games as iOS, and nearly none of the restrictions. But up until now there's been no end-all-be-all Android controller. Fortunately for those waiting, it looks like the Moga might just be it.

Perhaps the Moga's greatest success is the way it feels and functions as a quality controller, despite its tiny size and light weight. While all of the buttons are small and compact, they don't feel cheap and they respond quickly with a satisfying click.

The Moga not only has the right feel but the right buttons; there are four face buttons, two analog sticks, select and start, two triggers, and a sync button. In fact the only thing missing is a D-pad. Under both of the rubber grips sits a AAA battery. Combined these batteries can keep the Moga charged an impressive 18 hours of gameplay.

While the device is mostly sturdily built, some people will find the analog sticks a bit too resistant, and our device rattled when we shook it (the effect of a loose sync button). But PowerA has put forth a great effort to insure that the Moga isn't just a mobile gimmick - it really feels like a controller, while remaining ultra-compact and under $50.

Phones clip into the Moga via a retractable arm, which is kept tight via a rubberbanding mechanism. This allows almost any size device - from a Droid Incredible to a Galaxy Note - to fit snuggly in the Moga. While we never experienced any issues with this design, it's easy to imagine how it could go wrong: after months of use, it could potentially snap and effectively ruin the device.

Because the Moga utilizes Bluetooth and not a physical connection, if you're gaming on a tablet, you can simply close the device and pair it to the tablet - which is done in a matter of seconds through the (aforementioned) sync button.

There's also another problem - the clamp locks in three positions - shut, perfectly perpendicular to the controller, and slightly leaned back. Unfortunately, we found none of these ideal for phone gaming, and even the furthest back is not far enough back to be ideal for prolonged gaming sessions (though we still prefer it to a touchscreen).

When you're not gaming, the Moga is lightweight and doesn't occupy too much space. At the end of the day you're still carrying around another gadget though, and if you're more into casual mobile games than games that require precise control, its possible the Moga will find a shelf to collect dust on.

The Moga has a long list of games that are already compatible (currently over 40), and big name hits like Asphalt 7, Virtua Tennis, Dead Trigger, N.O.V.A. 3 are already on the list. Of course, some work better than others - and not all games utilize every button (in fact, most don't), but in just about every game we tried, our experience was improved by using the Moga.

Moga has promised that even more big name publishers are on board, and the fact that the Moga is being sold by many major outlets and a few carriers nearly guarantees that it will receive enough additional support to validate your purchase for months to come.

The whole system is rounded out by the Pivot App - a Moga app which filters all available Moga-compatible games in one spot (as well as supply you an easy way to purchase and find more compatible games). The Moga and app are compatible with all Android devices with Android 2.3 or later, which should all but guarantee your Android device is supported.

The Moga will be available October 22nd both online and through multiple retailers. At $49.99 it's more economical than the $80 Duo controller, and will likely see more dev support than comparable iOS options.

The Verdict

Simply put, the Moga is the best controller for mobile gaming. It's comfortable, has a long battery life, and a decent app selection. It's almost guaranteed to be a supported success in months to come, given the competitive price point and number of retailers offering it. The design's still not perfect, but if you're serious about mobile gaming on your Android device, you can rest assured the Moga is your best bet.

Good

The Moga won't revolutionize mobile gaming, but it still might be the single best way to enjoy your Android games.